Winner: The Left Bank, Glasgow
Catherine Hardy and Jacqueline Fennessey are co-owners of Left Bank, a relative newcomer to the Glasgow foodie-scene, which has been winning accolades ever since it opened last year in the city's West End. There's a laid-back, slightly faded charm to the place, which is down to the owners' love of natural materials - along with beautiful wallpaper by textile designers Timorous Beasties, local artists have contributed to the space, designing the bar. Many of the tables are made of old scaffolding planks. The food is the main draw though, with a South Asian influence in evidence - think sticky pork belly with star anise for under a tenner. Or, if you fancy something a little more traditional, go for beer-battered fish and Ayrshire chips. Puds are a must, with everything from roasted pineapple to coconut ice making an appearance. There's even a nod to regional produce, with a cheese plate that features Mull cheddar and Strathdon blue. Hardy and Fennessey were bored with being told you had to eat potatoes with fish, or green veg with meat and so, if you can't see a dish you like, you can choose your side orders according to what you fancy, and it's all included in the already low price.
Runner-up: The Fish Club, London
Choose your supper from the wet-fish counter as you stand on a glass floor over running water at London's most avant-garde chippy. So do you fancy gurnard? Oysters? Sardines with garlic? Salsa verde? Or just really fantastic chips - made with regular or sweet potato? All present and correct here. Three cheers for the guys who dragged the piscine protein out of a greasy bag and into the 21st century, swapping industrial crumb for parsley and garlic, and ketchup for saffron aioli. Main courses from £4.95-£11.95, all the wine is under £20.
· 189 St John's Hill, London SW11 (020 7978 7115)
Best of the rest
From indian, thai and gorgeous greek to sushi, salad and seafood - fine dining for less than £20.
Scotland
The Ubiquitous Chip
12 Ashton Lane, Glasgow (0141 334 5007)
What began as a lament for local lack of discernment continues as a stylish and vastly successful enterprise, that now has three dining floors, a courtyard and three bars. The food is wonderfully inventive; but note that it's the upstairs menu where you can eat for less than £20.
Wales
Brasserie at Ye Olde Bulls Head Inn
Castle Street, Beaumaris, Isle of Anglesey (01248 810329)
Everyone knows this 15th-century inn with its fine dining and deeply historic premises. A breath of fresh air for locals who like to visit often, however, is the light-filled, contemporary upstairs Brasserie. With no reservations, queues often stretch out of the door, but it's worth it for the convivial atmosphere and lots of excellent mains under £8.
N. Ireland
Bay Tree Coffee House
118 High Street, Hollywood, Co Down (028 9042 1419)
This restaurant, art gallery and shop only opens on Fridays for dinner, which may contribute to it being jam-packed at lunchtime. Don't be put off - join the stampede for rare-breed sausages, chunky soups, home-made pâté with toast, pan-fried haddock and legendary cinnamon scones.
Yorkshire & Humberside
Cafe No.8 Bistro
8 Gillygate, York (01904 653074)
Salmon fishcakes, Moroccan meatballs or bruschetta? All these make for a light lunch at the much-loved Cafe No.8, while evenings bring heartier proteins in more elaborate dishes. The style is plain tables, charming staff, and an honest pricing policy that puts more pretentious eateries in this much-visited city to shame.
SiSushi
The Electric Press, Great George Street, Leeds (0113 2471441)
Probably the healthiest pitstop in town, the white, minimalist SiSushi serves everything from soup and noodles through 'stuff on sticks' and the ever-popular sushi, plus fresh smoothies and juices. Feel proud, then ruin it all with one of their heart-stopping cocktails.
North west
Everyman Bistro
5-7 Hope Street, Liverpool (0151 708 9545)
True to their original mission after 35 years, the owners of this madly popular bistro in the basement of the Everyman theatre still provide a three-course menu for around £15. Food is displayed in a counter system, running from Irish stew to gluten-free shepherd's pie and the menu changes twice a day so there's always something new.
North east
Chaopraya
20a First Floor, Blayds Court, Swinegate, Leeds (0113 244 9339)
The charming oriental service, scents of Thailand and all-round efficiency commend this place to locals, who could easily spend big money on a blow-out feast with orchid-strewn cocktails and multiple curry dishes. But most are delighted with an express lunch and a Singha beer for under a tenner.
Midlands
Sinatra's
Chapel Quarter, Nottingham (0115 941 1050)
Soul, jazz and blues form the background to this lively bar, bistro and restaurant. It's the bistro that offers best value, with classics such as risotto (£7.95), Caesar salad (£8.95), fish and hand-cut chips (£9.45.)
East Anglia
Butley Orford Oysterage
Market Hill, Orford, Suffolk (01394 450277)
Sheer joy for pescivores, this longstanding home of bivalves, plus smoked trout, skate with brown butter, griddled squid and a plethora of other things fresh from the sea offers a cracking meal for very little outlay. Then you can spend the change in the shop on produce from the smokehouse, and go for a walk along the creek where the oysters are grown - a proper fishy day out.
South west
Papadeli
84 Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol (0117 9736569)
The upstairs café at this well-run deli is a favourite venue for breakfast, lunch and cake in the afternoons. Charcuterie, tortillas, stuffed peppers, wonderful salads and serious cheeses are the mainstays of the meals here.
Blackstones Kitchen
10a Queen Street, Bath, Somerset (01225 338 803)
Rebecca and Daniel Blackstone are the hands-on proprietors of this inspiring gourmet takeaway, which now has a restaurant housed in a Georgian townhouse across the street. Lunch at the Kitchen is best value: hearty soups, organic burgers or Thai green curry for under a fiver. Heaven for a working lunch, or a good reason to visit this wonderful city.
South east
Bill's Produce Store
56 Cliffe High Street, Lewes, East Sussex (01273 476918) or 100 North Road, Brighton (01273 629894)
This foodie mecca on the south coast is Lewes's pride and joy. Pop in for mushrooms on toast, buttermilk pancakes with blackberry butter, or peppered steak sandwich. Or just gasp and steal their ideas to make your own using their produce.
London
Leon
35-36 Great Marlborough Street, W1 (020 7437 5280); and Ludgate Circus, EC4 Spitalfields, E1 and Brompton Road, SW3
Part-take-away, part-café, Leon aims to provide fresh, organic, tasty food in a fun atmosphere. Try the meatballs (£5.50) or the power salads (£3.95-5.50).
Just Falafs
27b Covent Garden Piazza, WC2 (020 7240 3838)
Squish into this tiny takeaway with a few tables inside or seating outside with parasol heaters if you like really light, fluffy chick-pea falafels with fresh herbs served with crunchy salads, tahini and hot chilli sauce.
Salade
52 Stratton Street, W1, (020 7499 6565) and 3 Old Bailey, EC4 (020 7248 6612) If you're sick of the usual stodgy vacuum-packed sandwiches and limp salads, head here to get your weekday lunch. Construct your own salad using everything from alfalfa sprouts and crayfish to quinoa and puy lentils, or if you're feeling unimaginative, rely on their tuna and white bean niçoise, or a 'Gorgeous Greek.'
